Properties of the Yeast Communities Associated with Termites of a Tropical Monsoon Forest: Cat Tien National Park, Vietnam

Yeast populations were investigated for the following substrates associated with termitaria of five termite species occurring in the Cat Tien National Park (south Vietnam): nest walls, fungal gardens (if present), and termite gut and body surface, as well as for the litter and upper soil horizons near the termitaria. The morpho-physiological properties of the yeasts isolated from associations with termites were analyzed. The isolated fungi with yeast type of growth were assigned to 39 species, 10 of which have not been described at the time of this study. The yeast communities developing in termite guts and on their body surface exhibited low species diversity. The yeasts isolated from termite guts and body surface were characterized by a relatively broad spectrum of morphological and physiological properties (24 to 33 parameters out of the 34 ones in the standard description). The most common properties were the presence of mycelial or pseudomycelial growth, as well as ability to ferment glucose, use plant glycosides (salicin) and simple products of wood degradation (xylose and cellobiose) as growth substrates.